Small-Business Hiring Is Slow
Despite Optimism for Economy

Chief executives and owners of small businesses have expressed growing optimism lately over prospects for the economy in coming months, but their own hiring appears to be more cautious.

Of the small businesses surveyed in July by the National Federation of Independent Business, 16% said they had reduced total employment, 13% said they had increased it, and 71% reported no change during the past three months, on a seasonally adjusted...